Teachers, assistant principal face pink slips at Oroville High School District

Oroville >> With one trustee voicing anguish over a tough decision Wednesday night, the Oroville Union High School District governing board approved layoffs of 20 full-time equivalent certificated positions.

The district is reducing 92 classroom sections at the high schools and eliminating an assistant principal position for 2014-15 based on a continuing decline in enrollment.

Although the budget for the next year won't be finalized until June, the state requires districts to notify certificated employees of an intent to dismiss them by March 15.

Superintendent Corey Willenberg said the decision will affect between 20 and 24 people, though the exact number won't be known until staff goes through seniority lists and other procedures.

It was an emotional night at Wednesday's board meeting before the item about layoffs was addressed. Some people in the audience addressed ongoing negotiations between the district and teachers.

Rachel Bennett gave the board handouts, including one that compares other district salary percentages and talked about why she thinks OUHSD can afford increases.

Bennett said that from everything she has read about school finances, districts will be getting $1 million.

But while Bennett and another person insisted everything they hear about state funding to schools is rosy, the board has heard otherwise.

Trustee Scott Damon said he has yet to hear anybody say they really know.

Trustee Martin Sudicky said he doesn't see why the funding formula was changed and hasn't found anything where Governor Jerry Brown is telling districts the new funding is to restructure employee compensation.

Sudicky also pointed out that overall, the board wants to maintain financial solvency in the future.

"It is not our intention to take from our teachers," he said.

One man in the audience suggested the board should lower its reserves to provide funds to increase salaries and benefits. He said OUHSD's requirement of maintaining a 17 percent reserve is artificially high and needs to change. Sudicky later asked if the reserve is lowered, "where would the money go first, and at what percentage should it be divvied up?"

One person in the audience added that if the district doesn't maintain competitive compensation, "some of the most vibrant teachers we have are going to be lured away."

Sudicky answered that everyone on the board understands that position.

"We want to attract the best and brightest," he said. "But when we have to lay off 20 positions, and this breaks my heart ... until a better system comes along in how you solve this problem, we're going to lose them ... I don't want any of these employees to go. None. Zero."

After the public comments, Trustees Damon, Craig Domeyer and Sudicky thanked people in the audience for addressing their views and being respectful. The board could not take action on the comments.

The board approved the layoffs 4-0 without further discussion. Trustee Don Phillips was absent.